Set in the Highlands of the Cairngorms National Park, Badenoch and Strathspey area boasts some of Scotlands finest attractions, with Aviemore the central town offering the most for the visitor. There have been settlements in the region for several thousand years however, indeed theres an Iron Age fort at Dun Da Lamh hidden in the trees outside Laggan and a ring cairn of stones near Aviemore. More recent constructions include the now-dilapidated Castle Roy from the 14th century, the Congash Chapel (and Pictish Stones) and the magnificent Baroque Mansion Duff House. Aviemore and the surrounding area offers something for all ages, whether its skiing on the Cairngorm Resort or visiting the living history museum down the road in Newtonmore or checking out the world porridge making championships in Carrbridge. Below are all the villages and areas in Badenoch and Strathspey.

Forming part of the gateway to the Cairngorms National Park, the village name derives from the Gaelic word Carr meaning a boggy area. It has the oldest stone bridge in the Highlands. Built in 1717, it was severely damaged in the Muckle Spate (great flood) of 1829 and is now safe only to be viewed from a distance. It s a far cry from the times when locals and tourists used to leap from its middle into the River Dulnain. The village boasts the popular Landmark Centre with its huge variety of outdoor activities, which include: rock climbing, mock skydiving, flume riding and tree-top walking. There s also an ancient steam-powered sawmill and a hidden microscopic universe among many other attractions. A nature trail guides visitors to some of the rarest wildlife in the country but on a good day crossbills, crested tits, red squirrels and red deer can be seen. Just six miles north of Aviemore, Carrbridge was seen as one of the first ski villages. Easy access to the CairnGorm Mountain means it bustles with tourists heading for the slopes in the winter months. For those with less energy, the village is used as a hill-walking base and gives easy access to the rivers for fishing. It even has its own nine-hole golf course. Carrbridge is also famous for hosting the world porridge making championships for the coveted Golden Spurtle Trophy on the second Sunday each October (a spurtle is a traditional tapered stick used for stirring the porridge). It attracts entrants from across the globe, as does the Carve Carrbridge Scottish Open Chainsaw Carving Competition held every September for the Claymore Trophy.

Lying on the magnificent River Spey and home to the Scots Osprey, Boat of Garten nestles in woodland among rolling heather-clad hills and the mountains of the Cairngorms National Park. Taking its name from the ferry at Gartenmore, the village itself may only be around a hundred and fifty years old but there have been settlements in the outlying areas (Drumuillie, Chapelton, Tulloch Moor etc) for many thousands of years. Visitors to the area should definitely try the magnificent 18-hole golf course, known locally as The Gleneagles of the Highlands . There s also salmon and trout fishing on the River Spey; bird watching in the tranquil woods; hill-walking in the park particularly along the Speyside Way and cycling on the excellent mountain trails. For the winter sports fanatic, the ski areas of CairnGorm and The Lecht offer the best skiing and snowboarding in Scotland. The season usually runs from December to March but can be extended if the snowfall is good. The town s primary tourist attraction is the Strathspey steam railway which runs from the Boat to Aviemore and Broomhill, setting for the fictitious Glenbogle Station in the television series Monarch of the Glen. The line, part of the original Great North of Scotland route from Aviemore to Aberdeen, will eventually be extended to Grantown-on-Spey. Enjoy lunch during the twenty-mile round trip, or a romantic dinner as the sun dips behind the mountains. The town offers some of the finest self-catering accommodation in the Highlands while there are numerous restaurants in the centre.

The village lies in the heart of the Strathspey region of the Highlands between the towns of Aviemore and Grantown-on-Spey on the lower reaches of the River Nethy. The bridge itself was built in 1820 to Telford s design but it had to be rebuilt after the Great Moray Flood of 1829 washed parts of it downstream. The Abernethy Highland Games (and Clan Grant gathering) is another traditional Cairngorms National Park event. Established in 1880 and held on the second Saturday in August, it features all the usual heavy and light sports, such as tossing the sheaf and caber, and various running distances. Indeed there had reportedly been a gathering in the town since 1838 but the event was not well-organised in its early days. Competing pipe bands march throughout the gathering. There s a nine-hole golf course, salmon fishing on the Spey, traditional Scots nights , bird watching on guided walks and the usual winter-sport mountain attractions: skiing/snowboarding on the CairnGorm and at The Lecht, and rock and ice climbing at both. There are plenty of places to wine and dine in Nethy Bridge, and a variety of places to lodge. For traditional Scottish food, try the Clootie Dumpling at the Heather Centre, and stay at one of the Nethy Bridge, the Mountview or the Muckrach Lodge hotels. For those wishing to self-cater, try the superb Fern Lodge

Nestling between Caledonian pinewoods to the north and Loch Feshie to the south, the village lies at the foot of Craig Mhigeachaidh (the whispering mountain) in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. Aside from the spectacular scenery, the area is home to red squirrels, pine martens, rare crested tits, red deer and crossbills. Indeed the Highland Wildlife Park is one of many local attractions. The area is perhaps best known for its mountain biking and gliding but there s pony trekking, deer stalking, shooting, fishing, quad biking and hill walking organised on the nearby Alvie Estate. The gliding airstrip is only a few minutes from the village and the south facing bowl is rated as one of the UK s top mountain wave sites. If it s water sports you re after then sailing, canoeing, kayaking and windsurfing at Loch Insh is only a short drive away.

The locals believe this welcoming village between Kingussie and Aviemore marks the southern gateway to the Cairngorms National Park. The area was originally settled by the Picts but there was no village as such until traffic through the Spey Valley increased after the building of a bridge across the river in 1756. By the time the railways arrived in the mid-19th century, it was fashionable to Holiday in the Highlands and the new town on the moor became the bustling village it is today. The village boasts many tourist attractions but the Highland Folk Museum is perhaps the best known. See how the ancient Scottish peoples lived and worked by exploring the mile-long outdoor site with its living history museum and working farm. Many people when they think of Scotland think of its fantastic golf courses. Lying on the banks of the River Spey amongst some of the most dramatic Highland scenery in the UK, Newtonmore s is no exception. Its other ball sport shinty is also popular, with the annual match against Kingussie attracting a sizeable crowd. The Newtonmore Highland Games and Clan Macpherson gathering take place on the first Saturday in August and are not to be missed. Heavy and light events are included on the programme while marching pipe bands also compete. Walk the six-mile Wildcat Trail through the woods, moorland and rolling hills around the village is popular all year round. The Ormiston family run the Newtonmore pony trekking centre if you d like to explore the area on horseback. New Year s Eve or the Hogmanay celebrations are also a major event in the village. Torch-lit processions start at either end of the main street and meet in the middle. Then it s time to sample the Stag s Breath while fireworks light up the night. The village s two best pubs the Glen Hotel and the Braeriach Hotel both serve food and often lay on entertainment in the evenings. If you re looking to stay in the village centre then Greenways B&B is ideally positioned on the 18th green of Newtonmore s superb golf course. For those wishing to explore the surrounding countryside, Crubenbeg Holiday Cottages and Crubenmore Lodge provide luxury child-friendly accommodation in the shadow of the mountains.

Lying equidistant between Kingussie and Aviemore on the shore of Loch Insh, the village of Kincraig can claim to be one of the best-kept secrets of the Cairngorms National Park. It was originally known as Boat of Insh (after the ferry that used to cross the mighty river Spey at the northern end of the loch). Aside from all the usual water-sports windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, sailing on Loch Insh, the village boasts many other visitor attractions. The RSPB reserves in the Loch Insh Marshes are a paradise for bird watchers and animal lovers, and the society organises local walks during the summer. Boat trips along the river are also available. Wind down after a long day with a drink at the Quarterdeck bar and a meal at the Boathouse Restaurant on the Loch shore, voted the eatery with one of the five best views in Europe in 2008. There s even a model aeroplane display over the loch every September. If you re in town, try the March Guest House or Ossian Hotel. The Highland Wildlife Park has many species native to Scotland as well as endangered species from around the world. Or you could take in the 45-minute working sheepdog demonstration, which includes a sheep-shearing master-class with Neil Ross. Keep an eye out for the fireworks night in November and a winter fun day in December. After Christmas, why not take in the traditional Burns Night celebrations at the community hall followed by the husky run at Glenmore? By then of course the ski season on the CairnGorm will be well under way.

Built to replace the original settlement near the barracks at Ruthven in the late 18th century, Kingussie used to lie at the head of an immense pine forest in the foothills of the magnificent Cairngorms. Its name derives from the old Gaelic Ceann á Ghuibhsaich, meaning head of the pine wood, and it was considered the capital of Badenoch. Pronounced king-you-see, the village sprang up in the wake of the Industrial Revolution which brought bridge crossings over the Spey and, eventually, the railways. The pine forest was then cleared to make way for farmland. The original Speyside Distillery was built in the late 19th century but due to poor management and complaints from the locals it was demolished soon afterwards. The name wasn t revived until 1991 with a distillery at Drumguish on the River Tromie. This now produces the world-renowned Glentromie/Drumgruish spirit. A village in the Highlands wouldn t be the same without a golf course and Kingussie is no different. The 18-hole course meanders along the hillside to a thousand feet and gives magnificent views along the Spey Valley. Other activities include rock climbing, mountain biking, rambling and pony trekking. There are also all the traditional water sports windsurfing, canoeing, sailing, fishing a couple of miles away on Loch Insh and superb winter slopes for the skiers and snowboarders on the CairnGorm. All in all, Kingussie has something for everyone! For lunch or afternoon tea, try Coffee Shop. For an evening meal the Tipsy Laird is hard to beat. Kingussie s true gem, however, is the famous Cross restaurant. Its award winning cuisine and wine list ensure that it s always busy an absolute must..

The village lies in the heart of the Scottish Highlands just off the A9 between Dalwhinnie and Newtonmore. It has become something of a tourist attraction recently because much of the television series Monarch of the Glen was filmed here, the village being known as the fictitious Glenbogle. It is also known for its extraordinary variety of wildlife, from golden eagles soaring across the Cairngorm National Park to red deer, pine martens, crossbills and the rare crested tit and red squirrel. Laggan is ideally situated for anyone wishing to explore the whole park but it s particularly well-known for the fishing on the River Spey and in the surrounding lochs. Hill walking along the Spey Valley is equally popular but it takes a little extra fitness to tackle the beautiful Corrieyairack Pass. The skiing on the CairnGorm attracts visitors from all over the world each winter. Laggan s main attraction, however, is its Wolftrax Mountain Bike Centre. Set amongst dramatic Highland scenery of the Strathmashie Forest a blue grade fun park, technical red route and the extreme challenge of a double black diamond provide 18 kilometres of outdoor thrills (and possibly spills!). There are plenty of facilities on hand: bike hire, spares and repairs, café, showers etc. Highland Activities run centres throughout Scotland. They offer the widest range of outdoor pursuits from archery and canoeing to tomahawk throwing, paintballing and white water rafting. The nearest golf course is in Newtonmore few miles up the road but if it s recreation of a different kind you re after, Dalwhinnie s world-famous distillery is only a couple of minutes south. It produces some of the finest smooth, full-bodied and warm malts. The Laggan 10km road race is growing in popularity. Run in late May or early June it attracts entrants from across the country. For the less enthusiastic there s also a one-mile fun run on the same weekend. There s plenty of self-catering accommodation in an area suited for any summer or winter break.

Dalwhinnie, from the Gaelic for meeting place , lies in a barren and isolated spot at the head of Loch Ericht where it meets Glen Truim midway between Perth and Inverness. This was a junction for ancient cattle drovers heading from the Highlands to the markets at Crieff and Falkirk in the central lowlands in the early 18th century. It was so busy that a road was built between Dunkeld in the south and Inverness in the north in 1729 but the real boost came with the railways in 1863. The glen is bordered by the Monadhlaith Mountains on one side and the Forest of Atholl, the Cairngorms and the Grampians on the other. It is so isolated that staff at the world-famous distillery have their own hostel in case they get cut off by bad weather! The major tourist attraction is, of course, the distillery, which is the highest in Scotland. A great deal of whisky smuggling went on along the cattle droving route but it wasn t until 1897 that John Grant and his partners founded a legal still here. Instead of taking water from the nearby River Truim, they preferred to use the clear Lochan-Doire-Uaine spring water welling up from the Allt an t'Sluic Burn because of its purity. In the 1920s James Buchanan took over the site and used Dalwhinnie as the core malt for his famous Black & White blends. Today Dalwhinnie is one of the most recognisable brands in the world so it s worth joining one of the many tours running throughout the year. The village isn t far from Kingussie, Newtonmore and Aviemore so there are plenty of attractions to keep you busy, from watersports on Loch Insh to the Wildcat walking trails, from the Newtonmore Highland Games to skiing and snowboarding on the CairnGorm.

Fourteen miles northeast of Aviemore and surrounded by ancient woodland lies the capital of the Badenoch and Strathspey region, Grantown-on-Spey. It is a traditional planned Georgian Highland town in the middle of the Cairngorms National Park. Dating from the mid-18th century, it boasts many historic buildings, a tree-lined square and striking architecture. Visit the award winning museum to find out more. The town is famous for its golf course, which will challenge even the most serious golfer with its 18 demanding holes. The fishing on the River Spey is world renowned with salmon and trout the main catches. For those with less patience, why not take a stroll along the Speyside Way and absorb the delights of the area s many distilleries on the equally famous Whisky Trail? The two most associated with the town are Balmenach and Tormore. For the more enrgetic, the new Grantown Mountain Bike Skills Trail is well worth a look. And there are water sports aplenty on offer a few miles down the road at Loch Insh. The Strathspey Steam Railway runs from Aviemore through Boat of Garten to Broomhill (which doubled as the fictitious village of Glenbogle in the popular television series Monarch of the Glen). It takes in the glorious Highland countryside on its 1½ hour round trip and is ideal for enjoying a romantic dinner while the sun dips behind rolling hills and distant mountains. Of course being so close to Aviemore means the town isn t far from the ski area on the CairnGorm. Skiers and boarders routinely return here for the best slopes and conditions in a season that usually runs from December to April. There are more than thirty hotels and guest houses in and around the town so there s accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets.